Green synthesis and Biological Application of Selenium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Nanoparticle biogenic synthesis (NP) has recently gained significant attention in the scientific community. One of the main reasons for its popularity is the array of advantages it offers, including simplicity in the process, being environmentally friendly, rapid production, and cost-effectiveness. These characteristics make it a favored approach for many researchers in diverse fields. Among the nanoparticles synthesized, selenium nanoparticles (SeO2NPs) have shown promising results. In a recent experiment, SeO2NPs were produced using a novel method that involved the utilization of Cinnamomum verum bark extracts (CVBE) combined with selenium tetrachloride.
To ensure the quality and determine the properties of the biosynthesized SeO2NPs, several characterization techniques were employed. These included X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results from the XRD analysis revealed that the crystalline size of the nanoparticles was approximately 24.5 nm. Further, the TEM images provided visual evidence of the nanoparticle's size and morphology, showing that the diameter of SeO2NPs was consistently less than 100 nm. These particles also exhibited spherical and semispherical shapes, indicating uniformity in their synthesis.
A significant part of the study was to explore the potential applications of SeO2NPs, particularly their effect on antifungals and various bacterial strains. Interestingly, the SeO2NPs exhibited inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, measuring at 23 mm, and Staphylococcus aureus at 21 mm, they showed inhibition against antifungal isolates with a measurement of 18 mm. Notably, this inhibitory effect was found to be more potent than that against bacterial strains.